The biggest day in auto racing is just a few days away with the running of the Indianapolis 500 in the IndyCar Series and the Coca-Cola 600 for NASCAR's Winston Cup series. USA TODAY motorsports writer Chris Jenkins is in Charlotte, where he'll be covering NASCAR's biggest test of endurance. During the week leading up to the Coke 600, Chris has also been following defending Winston Cup champion Tony Stewart for a cover story in Friday's edition of USA TODAY. He's here to take your questions on all things racing.

Comment from Chris Jenkins:
What's up, all? Just spent an entire week following Tony Stewart around. Dude ran me ragged -- we got back from the Academy of Country Music Awards at about 8 this morning. I'm beat -- but ready for your questions.
Conshohocken, PA:
After running a grueling Indy 500, do you think Jeff Gordon has a prayer of winning the Coca Cola 600? I'll bet his brother Robby beats him that day!

Chris Jenkins:
Jeff . . . Robby . . . what's the difference? Oh yeah: Four championship rings. To answer your question, ROBBY has a great shot at winning Indy. At LMS? Not so much. He historically hasn't been so good there.Rochester New York:
do you see a major change in tony stewart this year after his off the track problems last year?

Chris Jenkins:
Absolutely. There were very few times during the past seven days that Stewart wasn't smiling or cracking jokes at his buddies' expense. You can read more about it in USA TODAY tomorrow, but suffice it to say he's a lot more mellow this year, or so it seems.Cleveland TN:
With Nascar so popular now why not run races on Sat. nites during prime time. That way if they are rained out you still have Sunday to have the race run on the weekend. This would be better than Monday when fans have to go back to work.

Chris Jenkins:
A lot of us support more Saturday night races. It'd give the crew guys an extra day at home, too. But traditionally, Saturday nights are the worst for TV ratings; most people are out doing stuff. And in the fall, Saturday night races would be up against SEC football. Not sure what's going to happen there.St Louis, MO:
Who is your favorite driver to complete both the Indy 500 and the Coca Cola 600 on the same day?

Chris Jenkins:
You've got to admire John Andretti, Tony Stewart and Robby Gordon for accepting that challenge, and I think it would be exciting for other drivers to try it in the future. Not here to pick favorites, but there just seems to be more of a buzz when Stewart does it. He just wants an Indy victory so badly.Columbus, 14-"O"hio State Buckeyes:
Kyle Petty seems like a very capible front office kinda person, why doesn't he stop racing and let one of these new young guns put Petty Racing back in Winner's Circle? Thank you!

Chris Jenkins:
Kyle Petty is one of my favorite people to talk to in NASCAR. Personally, I think he'd be a better TV analyst than anything else. People who know him say he takes too much responsibility himself, and doesn't delegate well. Might be key to some of the struggles they've had over there. That, and "The King" isn't as apt to spend money as Rick Hendrick, etc.Tulsa, OK:
Will the recent threat level change caused by terrorism concerns change the way this weekends Indy 500 or Coke 600 be covered by the respective networks?

Chris Jenkins:
It shouldn't -- unless something newsworthy were to happen. Then, obviously, they'd have to cut away. I'm planning to be at both races on Sunday and have my fingers crossed that everything goes smoothly.Tulsa, OK:
Is Gil de Ferran long overdue for an Indy 500 win? Qualifying well in the 228mph bracket tells me he's healed and ready to race. What do you think?

Chris Jenkins:
Only Michael Andretti is long overdue. Gil certainly could do it, though. He's a calculating tactician who doesn't seem to let emotion get the best of him in the cockpit, and that's a great template for an Indy winner.Tulsa, OK:
Who's your pick for the Coke 600 at Charlotte?

Chris Jenkins:
Bobby Labonte. He's a quiet guy like Kenseth, so it's easy to lose track of the fact that he's on a serious tear. And he's really good at LMS.Charlotte, NC:
Chris, what are your predictions for the Coke 600 -- need fantasy advice. Seems like Roush guys (Martin, J. Burton) have been good at Lowe's and Busch ran well at the Winston.

Chris Jenkins:
And besides Labonte, you can never count out the Roush cars, especially Kenseth and Martin. Burton is due. Busch? Hasn't been great in the 600. Then again, don't listen to me when it comes to fantasy NASCAR. I played in a league with all my college buddies back in Chicago who don't know squat about NASCAR, and I got trounced. Turns out, Kevin Harvick wasn't a solid first-round pick last year.Washington, DC:
How are the safety standards at the races these days?

Chris Jenkins:
When it comes to the cars, they're much better than two years ago and more advances are on the way: A carbon monoxide "scrubber" system that delivers fresh air to drivers' helmets and a roof escape hatch to help bigger drivers get out in an emergency. I'd still like to see full-time doctors and a full-time rescue team, like other series have. Widespread deployment of the SAFER barrier (Loudon and Richmond are next) will be huge.Manassas, Va.:
Saw that Jerry Nadeau woke up today. Any reaction at the garage? Do you think he'll recover or are we looking at another Steve Park story?

Chris Jenkins:
Everybody's thrilled. People had been whispering "Ernie Irvan" in the garage for the past few weeks. Sounds like things are looking up, but we won't know for sure until we can talk to him ourselves.GREECE, NEW YORK:
WHAT RACE CARRIES MORE PRESTIGE? INDY 500 OR DAYTONA 500?

Chris Jenkins:
I'd still say Indy, although the gap has closed significantly in the past decade.Fairfax, Va.:
Is auto racing at all concerned about the instability of our fossil fuel supply? Will we someday see an all-electric NASCAR race.

Chris Jenkins:
Let's just say conservation isn't a core value of NASCAR, or any other racing series, for that matter. Too bad, because racing would be a great way to develop engines that run on something other than oil-based products. But I don't think we'll see major racing leagues lead the way on this one.Greencastle, IN:
Will NASCAR be bringing in another celebrity singer, a la Britney Spears, to sing the national anthem? Whitney Houston would seem to be a natural for the Coke 600.

Chris Jenkins:
Not sure. Can be sure the right-wingers won't invite the Dixie Chicks, though.Athens, Ga.:
Is Mike Wallace apologetic for running Shawna Robinson into the wall when she was a Busch pole years ago?

Chris Jenkins:
Haven't asked Wallace about that. Maybe we can have Annika whack him with a putter until he confesses.Columbia, MO:
Where does all of Tony Stewart's energy come from? Stacker 2?

Chris Jenkins:
Frequent napping. He did the Stacker commercial as a favor to Kenny Wallace, and doesn't use any of that stuff as far as I know.Dothan, Ala.:
What was the most interesting thing you learned about Tony Stewart that you didn't know before you started following him around?

Chris Jenkins:
Great question. I really didn't know he was such an animal lover. He has a parrot and a bunch of dogs. He even owns a tiger, which is kept in a privately owned zoo in the Charlotte area. No kidding. When it comes to pets, he's a big softy.New Brittain, Conn.:
Is there typically much difference between who ran well at the Winston and who will run well in the Coca-Cola 600?

Chris Jenkins:
I think it dovetails pretty well; if your stuff was right for the Winston, it'll probably be right for the 600. And vice versa.outside chicago:
why do they hold one of the biggest nascar races on the same day as the big daddy of them all at indy>

Chris Jenkins:
Because people will watch them both.

Has Jerry Manuel been fired yet? My father-in-law has been on an anti-Manuel rant for the better part of a year.Cape Girardeau, Missouri:
Looking for a sleeper in the Coke 600... who do you think it might be.

Chris Jenkins:
Does Jeff Burton count as a sleeper?Lynchburg VA:
So are you and Tony buddies now? Is he going to invite you to party with him another time?

Chris Jenkins:
Buddies? Don't know about that. But I certainly know and understand him now a little better than I did before. Not sure if he'll let me borrow the private jet in the future, though.Dover, Del. :
Why don't they run NASCAR races on Mother's Day and they do on Father's Day?

Chris Jenkins:
Because they're good-ol' boys, and they like their mamas. Dads? Maybe NASCAR figures dads would like to spend father's day at the track -- or at least throwing empty soda cans at Todd Bodine on the TV.Benton Harbor, MI:
What's wrong with Ryan Newman this year. I thought he'd do better. And do you think Jerry Nadeau will ever drive a race car again?

Chris Jenkins:
Beyond rotten luck, I really don't have any insight into Newman's problems. He already was known as somebody who pushes his car to the limit; wonder if he's pushing even harder now because he's having such a rotten year. Nadeau? Don't want to speculate there.Portland ME:
I didn't see the ACM awards show last night.... how did Tony do? And did he poke any fun at himself or anyone else?

Chris Jenkins:
He introduced the band Diamond Rio; he's buddies with them. Played it pretty straightforward.Charlotte:
Any predictions for the pole winner tonight?

Chris Jenkins:
Probably not at the national level, but those kinds of guys always seem to resurface at little grassroots tracks.NY:
Sounds like Tony Stewart qualifies as a "sleeper" .... Seriously Chris, how hectic was it hanging out with the guy and did you two talk about what was on Tony's mind when he challenged the media to spend a week with him?

Chris Jenkins:
The guy can nap any where, any time.

It was really hectic. He has a fair amount of sponsor commitments, and a bunch of stuff he chooses to do himself. He seems to split his time equally between the racetrack, Charlotte and Indianapolis. When he challenged the media to spend time with him, I think he just wanted to help his image. Some of the things he has said in the past about fan access to the garage area might have come across as him not liking fans. But when he's talking to fans in a controlled environment, like an autograph session or Q and A session, he's sincere and personable.Midland, Texas:
Any word on Honda or Toyota or another foreign automaker getting into the Busch or Winston Cup series in the near future?

Chris Jenkins:
Toyota seems certain to be headed to Winston Cup in the next few years. Honda? Haven't heard anything solid about them, or any other foreign manufacturer.hickory n.c.:
how do you think the joe gibbs cars will do? they can't do much worse than last week?

Chris Jenkins:
I think Stewart and Labonte both will be really, really good on Sunday. Labonte will win.Lexington, Ky.:
Let's turn the tables a bit. Do you think it would be easier for a journalist or a driver to do an Indy 500/Coke 600 double?
That should be your next follow-the-driver-around assignment.

Chris Jenkins:
Funny you should mention that. I'll be with Chip Ganassi all day Sunday, starting at Indy and flying to Charlotte in the afternoon. I did the same thing with Robby Gordon last year, although I wasn't on the same plane as Robby between races. Can you tell I'm just looking for excuses to go to Indy? Because I am.Irondequoit, New York:
Do you think terry labonte can get back to where he was in the mid 90's? winning races?

Chris Jenkins:
No, I don't. It'd be cool if he proved me wrong.Fort Collins, Colo.:
In your opinion, what race track has the best fans? How about the best atmosphere?

Chris Jenkins:
Everybody says Bristol, but there are too many cautions at Bristol for my liking. The pace car always seems to lead the most laps. I personally like Richmond.Comment from Chris Jenkins:
Thanks everybody!
arlington texas:
How about a 3 peat for Helio Castroneves? Do you think his chances are good at winning from the pole?

Chris Jenkins:
Oops . . . thought I was out of questions there. Helio has a great shot, but three in a row? Law of averages says he's due for some bad luck. I like the Andretti-Green cars. A lot of people like Kanaan.Burlington, Vt.:
Has Tony Stewart mellowed? I can't recall any incidents with photographers this season. Then again, some might say he's lost his edge since he hasn't won yet in 2003. What's your take on his victory drought?

Chris Jenkins:
He seems more mellow. Lost his edge? Doubt it. Not from listening to him and the crew on the radio. Seemed the reason he crashed during the Winston was because of an ultra-aggressive move on T. Labonte. He has had the car to win several races, they just have to put it all together. As for defending his championship, that's going to be really, really tough at this point.Comment from Chris Jenkins:
Thanks everybody! Solid questions all around.